Alice, how are you ? Your information is tremendously useful, thanks very much.

I'm a smoker (willing to quit). What works for me is avoid dairy substances, drink lots of water (visit the WC before performance) and a mild expectorant made of herbs. It could be interesting that I've SEEN particles of phlegm in my vocal cords, once when I went to a specialist who took a complete video of my vocal tract. They are few (seen only one) thin filaments of flexible and solid material which adhere to any tissue they find in their way. In particular when one sticks across the cords, you have a perfect vibration effect totally alien to the normal vibration.

The doctor told me I have a great larynx and everything was ok, but recommended me to quit smoking. I would prefer he to tell me that I was en serious danger !

A recommendation from my vocal teacher: if you have to cough, open cords so as to avoid phonation, make a silent cough of pure air with no sound of the voice.

Liz, please don't pass that recommendation of hanging over the chair, etc. to Spaw.

Un abrazo - Andrés (still alive)